The National, an indie band known for their distinctive sound and love for film and literature, drew inspiration from Paul Newman's 1958 movie adaptation of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' for their song 'City Middle'. The song explores the concept of finding peace through alcohol, a theme depicted in the movie. However, unlike Newman's character, frontman Matt Berninger struggled with substance abuse and found that it led to greater depression and writer's block. Berninger's personal struggles and honest portrayal of mental challenges in his music contribute to The National's resonance and help destigmatize such topics [b585afc6].
The film 'The Neon Highway' stars actor and musician Rob Mayes as Wayne Collins, a young singer/songwriter whose dreams of making it in Nashville were cut short by a car crash. The movie follows Wayne's journey as he meets Claude Allen, a former country music legend played by Beau Bridges, and together they return to Nashville to try and score a record deal. Mayes describes the film as 'special' and relates to his character's struggles. He praises Beau Bridges and expresses admiration for country stars Lee Brice and Pam Tillis, who also appear in the film. Mayes also mentions his upcoming single release and another comedy film called 'Lost & Found in Cleveland.' He hopes that 'The Neon Highway' can inspire hope in a challenging industry landscape [efb966c7].
In other film news, the future of the movie 'Coyote vs. Acme' remains uncertain. Screenwriter Samy Burch refutes rumors of the film's cancellation and states that conversations about its release are ongoing. However, other cast and crew members believe the movie has been permanently canceled due to the lack of communication from Warner Bros. The uncertainty surrounding the film has left fans and industry insiders wondering about its future [d0515e12].
Warner Bros. has also announced several release date changes, including 'Batman 2' moving to October 2026 and 'The Bride!' starring Maggie Gyllenhaal filling the October 2025 slot [ac55abc1].
Additionally, Christopher Storer, the creator of 'The Bear,' is set to adapt and direct Amor Towles' novel 'The Lincoln Highway' for Warner Bros. The film will follow the story of Emmett Watson and his little brother Billy as they search for a new home and their mother in California. The project is being produced by Heyday Films' David Heyman, Storer, and Josh Senior, with Tyson Bidner as a producer. Towles' novel, along with his other works 'Rules of Civility' and 'A Gentleman in Moscow,' has collectively sold over 6 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages [ac55abc1].